Week 12: WebQuest

What is a WebQuest?



"WebQuest," as defined by Tom March, circa 2003


"A WebQuest is a scaffolded learning structure that uses links to essential resources on the World Wide Web and an authentic task to motivate students’ investigation of a central, open-ended question, development of individual expertise and participation in a final group process that attempts to transform newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding. The best WebQuests do this in a way that inspires students to see richer thematic relationships, facilitate a contribution to the real world of learning and reflect on their own metacognitive processes."

THE WEBQUEST FORMULA

WebQuests, promote high-level thinking, develop problem-solving skills, and provide an avenue for seamlessly integrating technology into the curriculum. . According to Dodge, the six building blocks of a WebQuest are:

• The Introduction orients students and captures their interest.
• The Task describes the activity's end product.
• The Process explains strategies students should use to complete the task.
• The Resources are the Web sites students will use to complete the task.
• The Evaluation measures the results of the activity.
• The Conclusion sums up the activity and encourages students to reflect on its process and results.

ADVANTAGES:

• Internet sites are pre-selected so students don’t waste time searching.
• Students are lead to use higher level thinking to process information.
• Processing information helps avoid plagiarism.
• Makes efficient use of the net.
• Employs cooperative learning (students are in pairs or teams for most).
• Students will do real world research that is current and up-to-date.
• Scaffolding provided within the lesson can help lower learners catch up.
• Lessons are designed to motivate students by capturing their interest.

 DISADVANTAGES:

• Create one could take a lot of time.
• Broken links.
• Content often focused on Web resources, ignoring other library resources.
• Students can easily distracted by other things and not concentrate on activities.

In my personal opinion, I can say thtat this learning tool, is an interesting way to let students assimilate the information given by the teacher and analize it, to create their own knowledege and makes students to develop a critical thought. This learning tool offers students self pacing and self learning and allows them work individually or in groups.

WEBQUEST LINK:
http://platea.pntic.mec.es/erodri1/EJEMPLO1.htm